McMedical Care
Sarah Harney
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December 2006
There's a health care revolution underway. But it's not being fomented by doctors and hospitals or by governors and legislators. Rather, the seeds of a radical new approach to delivering health services are taking root deep in the heart of an industry whose life's blood is efficiency and affordability.
Wal-Mart, Target, CVS and a host of other chain stores are setting up retail clinics: medical outposts that sit inside their stores, right alongside the shampoo, Pampers and ketchup. Customers can walk into the clinic, see a price list for services, sign up for an appointment and, if the wait will be more than a couple of minutes, cruise the store aisles for Christmas wrap or a can of soup.